The Detroit Auto Show, or North American International Auto Show, is in for big changes come 2020. The show will reportedly move to June to capitalize on warm weather, ditch frigid temperatures and snow found in January and potentially take on a whole new identity with a name change.
And organizers are looking to the Goodwood Festival of Speed for inspiration. The Detroit News reported on Thursday the Detroit Auto Dealers Association (DADA), sent representatives to scout the festival to bring home fresh ideas for a 2020 Detroit Auto Show.
The festival has been held annually since 1993 and has grown larger than life in recent years. For four days, automakers run their latest cars up a hill climb event, show off their latest vehicles, entertain guests and engage with buyers in a way traditional auto shows don’t offer. Importantly for Detroit show organizers, Goodwood’s festival attendance has swelled as major automakers skip out on the regular auto show circuit. Even Tesla erected a display at the festival.
DADA doesn’t plan to mimic the Goodwood Festival of Speed in Detroit, however, and organizers said it would be impossible to replicate in the city. They do believe there’s a template for the future in Goodwood, though.
“The festival-like atmosphere (at Goodwood) with dynamic vehicle debuts are something that would play well for us in warmer months,” DADA spokesperson Max Muncey said. “What we look to deliver in 2020 and beyond will be unique to Detroit and showcase not only our great city, but the global automotive leadership this region holds.”
Comment
This could be a Goodwood event but with an American take on it.
Vintage races and laps could be held downtown on the remains of the streets the F1 race was held. The event could merge with Woodward Cruise and or even Meadowbrook.
This could really change the dynamics of how auto shows and events are done. This would be like SEMA and Goodwood merged.
The only thing that could destroy this is the corrupt political machine that has been holding rebirth up in Detroit. The businesses will come and pay for most of this but they will not be extorted. If needed move it outside Detroit City to a suburb if they can not clean up their act. Waterford has a nice little track for laps.
I would move it to July and or August as it is just as warm but generally less rain.